Device and method for holding down mobile homes

ABSTRACT

A method and means for anchoring mobile homes to the ground comprises an elongated flexible strap extending over the top of the mobile home and having opposite ends extending downwardly along the side walls of the mobile home. A pair of anchor elements are anchored in the ground adjacent the opposite ends of the straps. The anchor elements comprise an elongated rod having blade means on the lower end thereof for anchoring the rod in the ground. A strap gripping means is mounted on the upper end of each of the rods for securing the opposite ends of the straps to the rods. At least one of the strap gripping means comprises a winch around which is wound the straps so that the strap may be tightened to adjust the tension therein. The straps are constructed from a polyester synthetic fibrous material.

United States Patent [:9]

Abbott 1 1 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HOLDING DOWN MOBILE HOMES [75] Inventor: Donald W. Abbott, Des Moines.

211 Appl. No.: 506,753

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 371163, June 18.

[ 51 July 15,1975

3.697,045 10/1972 Farley 254/51 3.733 75O 5/1973 Hege 3,747,288 7/1973 Grimelli $348,367 11/1974 Barnes 52/23 Primary ExaminerPrice C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent. or FirmZarley, McKee. Thomte & Voorhees [57] ABSTRACT A method and means for anchoring mobile homes to the ground comprises an elongated flexible strap extending over the top of the mobile home and having opposite ends extending downwardly along the side walls of the mobile home. A pair of anchor elements are anchored in the ground adjacent the opposite ends of the straps. The anchor elements comprise an elongated rod having blade means on the lower end thereof for anchoring the rod in the ground. A strap gripping means is mounted on the upper end of each of the rods for securing the opposite ends of the Straps to the rods. At least one of the strap gripping means comprises a winch around which is wound the straps so that the strap may be tightened to adjust the ten sion therein. The straps are constructed from a polyester synthetic fibrous material.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HOLDING DOWN MOBILE HOMES This is a continuation-in-part application of application, Ser. No. 37l,263, filed June 18, I973.

This invention relates to a hold-down device for mobile homes.

In recent years the popularity of mobile homes has increased substantially. One problem encountered with mobile homes however is the safety of these structures during violent wind storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Because of their lighter weight, and because by their very nature they are not anchored to the ground in a satisfactory manner, these mobile homes are often susceptible to damage in strong winds.

The present invention relates to a method and means for holding down mobile homes in strong winds. The device comprises a strap which extends over the upper end of the mobile home and which is anchored to rods which are firmly anchored in the ground on opposite sides of the mobile home. Winches are provided for tightening the tension in the straps. The straps are con structed from a polyester fibrous material and are adapted to withstand tensions of up to 15,000 pounds.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a device which will hold down mobile homes throughout exposure to strong winds and elements.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device which is simple to install.

A further object of the present invention is the provi' sion of a device which can easily be removed for transporting the mobile home.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a holddown device which is light in weight.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device which is unobtrusive and does not destroy the aesthetic appearance of the mobile home.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device which can be tightened or adjusted easily at will.

A further object ofthe present invention is the provision ofa device which will accommodate mobile homes of virtually any size.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a device which is stronger than previous holddown devices and will withstand greater tensions than previous hold-down devices.

A further object of the present invention is the provision ofa device which does not deteriorate appreciably in response to weathering.

A further object of the present invention is the provisions of a device which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, and attractive in appearance.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the de vice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mobile home having the hold-down device of the present invention thereon.

FIG. 2 is the view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded pictorial view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a persective view of a modified form of winch for use with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another modified form of winch for use with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a mobile home having a top 12 opposite side walls 14, opposite end walls 16, support wheels 18, and a forwardly extending tongue 20.

The numeral 22 generally designates the hold-down device of the present invention. Device 22 comprises a pair of anchor elements 24, winches 26 on the upper end of anchor elements 24, a polyester fibrous strap 28, and corner brackets 30.

Anchor element 24 includes an elongated rod 32 having a beveled lower end 34. An auger-like blade element 33 is welded to the lower end of rod 32 and is adopted to be screwed into the ground to provide an anchor for rod 32. The upper end of rod 32 is formed into an eyelet 38.

Winch 26 includes a U-shaped frame 40 in which is supported a rotatable winch drum 42. Winch drum 42 includes gears 44 which are adapted to mesh with a reduction gear (not shown) driven by a handle 46. Han dle 46 is rcmovably mounted on a reduction gear shaft 48. A lock lever 50 is adapted to intermesh with gears 44 so as to lock drum 42 against rotational movement when it is desired to do so.

Winch 26 is secured to the upper end of rod 32 by means of a U-bolt 52 which surrounds rod 32 below eyelet 38 and which extends through holes in U-shaped frame 40 of winch 26 where it is held by nuts 54. To provide an additional securement of winch 26 to an' chor element 24, a bolt 56 extends through eyclet 38 and also through the web portion of U-shapcd frame 40 where it is secured by nut 58. Bolt 56 is retained in eyelet 58 by virtue of a collet 60 which is inserted within eyelet 38 and also by means of a washer 62 which embraces collet 60 and also engages eyelet 38. These two means of securing winch 26 to anchor element 24 provide means for resisting tension forces which may be exerted by strap 28.

Strap 28 is wound around winch drum 42 and extends upwardly over the top of mobile home 10 and down the opposite side thereof where it is secured to a second winch identical to the one shown in FIG. 3. While it is preferable that winches be utilized at opposite ends of strap 28, it is possible to utilize only one winch at one end of belt 28 and to secure the other end of belt 28 directly to anchor element 24.

Corner brackets 30 include a horizontal leg 64 and a vertical leg 66. Each of these legs include flanges or guides 68 which are adapted to embrace the opposite edges of strap 28. A roller element 70 extends between flanges 68 of horizontal leg 64, and is adapted to rotate similar to a roller bearing. Strap 28 extends over roller element 70 and bears on roller 70 so as to permit the tension in strap 28 to be easily transferred to the opposite ends thereof. Brackets 30 therefore prevent straps 28 from engaging the corners of mobile home 10, and consequently brackets 30 minimize the danger that straps 28 might become worn or torn as a result of their engagement with the corners of mobile home 10.

Particularly advantageous results have been obtained by the use of a strap made of polyester fibers. A preferred type of strap is a 2 inch polyester belting which will withstand 18,000 pound tension and which is manufactured by Southern Weaving Company, Grecnville, S.C., under the trade designation Style l233 XP.

A hold-down device manufactured with the above referred to strap material has been found to be highly successful in preventing damage to mobile homes during high winds. It is simple to install and can be easily removed during the transportation of the mobile home. Furthermore, it is light in weight and does not destroy the aesthetic appearance of the mobile home. It can be tightened or adjusted at any time by the owner of the mobile home and will accommodate mobile homes of virtually any size. The polyester fiber strap is stronger than steel and will not deteriorate in response to weathering. The device is economical to manufacture and durable to use, and therefore it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Referring to H05. 5 and 6 a modified form of winch is shown and is designated by the numeral 100. Winch 100 comprises a rectangular tube 102. Rotatably journaled between two opposite sides of tube 102 is a winch drum 104. On one end of drum 104 is a large turning nut 106 which is rigid with respect to winch drum 104 and which is positioned outside rectangular tube 102. Also fixed to winch drum 104 is a ratchet 108 which is positioned within tube 102 and which includes a plurality of ratchet teeth 110 at its outer edge.

A ratchet locking device 112 is pivotally mounted to the interior of rectangular tube 102 for pivotal movement about a bolt 114. Locking device 112 includes a pawl 116 which is adapted to pivot in response to gravity in a downward position into engagement with teeth 110 of ratchet 108. Pawl I16 prevents ratchet 108 from rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. By rotating locking device 112 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6 it is possible to remove pawl 116 from engagement with teeth 110 thereby permitting ratchet 108 to rotate in a clockwise direction.

Winch drum 104 includes a slot 118 for receiving one end of strap 28 so that strap 28 may be wound around drum 104.

Anchor element 24 is secured to winch 100 by placing eyelet 38 of anchor element 24 within the interior of rectangular tube 102 and by securing eyelet 38 to the interior of tube 102 by means of a bolt 120 and nuts 122.

The modifications shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 provide a device which is safe and which protects the ratchet from becoming entangled in peoples clothing or from otherwise causing damage to people who may brush against winch 100. Rotation of winch drum 104 is accomplished by applying a conventional wrench to turning nut 106. Turning nut 106 does not present a danger to people moving around the trailer as would be the case with a handle or other protruding device.

Referring to FIG. 7 a further modified form of winch 124 is shown. Winch 124 is advantageous because it requires a minimum amount of material, and is therefore economical to manufacture. An upper .l-shaped frame member 126 rotatably supports a winch drum 128. At one end of winch drum 128 is a ratchet 130 having ratchet teeth 132 on the outer edges thereof. At the other end of winch drum 128 is a turning nut 134. Strap 28 is wound around drum 128 in a fashion similar to that shown in the previous drawings. Welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of J-shaped frame 126 is an inverted U-shaped member 136 having downwardly extending spaced apart legs 138. Eyelet 38 of anchor element 24 is inserted between spaced apart legs 138 and is secured therein by means of a bolt 140 which extends between spaced apart legs 138.

The method of the present invention comprises rotating anchor element 32 so that it augers its way into the ground. This may be accomplished by placing a bar through eyelet 38 so as to obtain leverage during the rotation of anchor element 24. Eyelet 38 thus provides two functions in that it permits easy application of leverage during the rotation of anchor element 24 and it also provides means for securing anchor element 24 to winch 40, winch 100, or winch 124. After anchor element 24 has been securely imbedded in the ground, eyelet 38 is secured to the particular winch being used. Strap 28 is then extended over brackets 30 at the corners of mobile home 12 and is secured to a similar anchor element 24 mounted on the opposite side of mobile home 12. The winch is then rotated to take up the slack in strap 28 and to tighten strap 128 as tight as possible. In this regard roller element permits the tension in strap 28 to be fully taken up along the entire length thereof so that no portion of strap 28 bears a greater tension than any other portion thereof. The winches shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 permit the application of leverage to the rotation of the winch so as to insure that strap 28 is tightened to the greatest possible tension. This is advantageous over the devices shown in the prior art inasmuch as the prior art does not disclose means for applying leverage to tighten the straps.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

What is claimed is:

l. A hold-down device for anchoring a mobile home to the ground, said mobile home having a top, opposite walls extending downwardly from the lateral edges of said top, and opposite ends, said hold-down device comprising: an elongated flexible strap of single thickness extending over said top of said mobile home and having opposite ends extending vertically downwardly along said sidewalls of said mobile home;

said strap being of polyester material;

corner brackets being mounted at the corners of said mobile home where said sidewalls meet the edges of said top wall. said corner brackets having rollers thereon, said straps extending over said rollers whereby said rollers facilitate transfer of tension along the length of said straps, said brackets having lateral flanges thereon embracing the opposite edges of said strap so as to maintain said strap in alignment over said bracket;

a pair of anchor elements anchored in the ground adjacent said opposite ends of said straps, said anchor elements comprising an elongated rod having helical blade means on the lower end thereof, said blade means being buried in the ground;

strap gripping means mounted on the upper end of each of said rods for securing said opposite ends of said straps to said rods;

at least one of said gripping means comprising a winch having a tubular frame with at least one open end, a shaft being rotatably mounted within said tubular frame and being connected to said strap, lock means within said frame for selectively locking said shaft against rotation, said shaft means extending outside said frame. and having a grasping member positioned outside said frame.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said brackets are each L-shaped and have a horizontal leg embracing said top of said mobile home and a vertical leg forming a corner juncture with said horizontal leg and extending downwardly therefrom in engagement with one of said walls of said mobile home.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said roller is positioned adjacent said corner juncture so as to facilitate sliding movement of said strap around said corner.

4. A hold-down device for anchoring a mobile home to the ground, said mobile home having a top, opposite walls extending downwardly from the lateral edges of said top, and opposite ends, said hold-down device comprising: an elongated flexible strap of single thickness extending over said top of said mobile home and having opposite ends extending vertically downwardly along said sidewalls of said mobile home;

said strap being of polyester material;

corner brackets being mounted at the corners of said mobile home where said sidewalls meet the edges of said top wall, said corner brackets having rollers thereon, said straps extending over said rollers whereby said rollers facilitate transfer of tension along the length of said straps, said brackets having lateral flanges thereon embracing the opposite edges of said strap so as to maintain said strap in alignment over said bracket;

a pair of anchor elements anchored in the ground adjacent said opposite ends of said straps, said anchor elements comprising an elongated rod having helical blade means on the lower end thereof, said blade means being buried in the ground;

strap gripping means mounted on the upper end of each of said rods for securing said opposite ends of said straps to said rods;

at least one of said gripping means comprising a winch having a J-shaped frame, a shaft rotatably mounted to said .l-shaped frame, locking means for selectively locking said shaft against rotation, an inverted U-shaped frame fixed to said J-shaped frame and embracing the upper end of said elongated rod, securing means securing said upper end of said rod to said U-shaped member.

5. A method for anchoring a mobile home to the ground, said mobile home having a top, opposite walls extending downwardly from the lateral edges of said top, and opposite ends, said method comprising:

anchoring anchor elements in the ground on opposite sides of said mobile home;

screwing anchor elements into the ground on opposite sides of said mobile home, said anchor elements each having an auger-like lower end, a shaft extending upwardly therefrom, and an eyelet on the upper end of said shaft;

securing one end of a polyester strap to one of said eyelets of said shaft; placing a pair of L-shaped brackets each having a roller at the corner thereof over the corners between said top and side walls of said mobile home,

extending said strap over the top of said mobile home and aligning said strap over said L-shaped brackets so that said strap bears on said rollers as it passes over said corners of said mobile home,

wrapping the other end of said strap around a winch;

attaching said winch to the other of said anchor elements by extending a bolt through said eyelet and a bolt hole in the frame of said winch; tightening said strap by rotation of said winch to bring said strap to a taut condition. 

1. A hold-down device for anchoring a mobile home to the ground, said mobile home having a top, opposite walls extending downwardly from the lateral edges of said top, and opposite ends, said hold-down device comprising: an elongated flexible strap of single thickness extending over said top of said mobile home and having opposite ends extending vertically downwardly along said sidewalls of said mobile home; said strap being of polyester material; corner brackets being mounted at the corners of said mobile home where said sidewalls meet the edges of said top wall, said corner brackets having rollers thereon, said straps extending over said rollers whereby said rollers facilitate transfer of tension along the length of said straps, said brackets having lateral flanges thereon embracing the opposite edges of said strap so as to maintain said strap in alignment over said bracket; a pair of anchor elements anchored in the ground adjacent said opposite ends of said straps, said anchor elements comprising an elongated rod having helical blade means on the lower end thereof, said blade means being buried in the ground; strap gripping means mounted on the upper end of each of said rods for securing said opposite ends of said straps to said rods; at least one of said gripping means comprising a winch having a tubular frame with at least one open end, a shaft being rotatably mounted within said tubular frame and being connected to said strap, lock means within said frame for selectively locking said shaft against rotation, said shaft means extending outside said frame and having a grasping member positioned outside said frame.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said brackets are each L-shaped and have a horizontal leg embracing said top of said mobile home and a vertical leg forming a corner juncture with said horizontal leg and extending downwardly therefrom in engagement with one of said walls of said mobile home.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said roller is positioned adjacent said corner juncture so as to facilitate sliding movement of said strap around said corner.
 4. A hold-down device for anchoring a mobile home to the ground, said mobile home having a top, opposite walls extending downwardly from the lateral edges of said top, and opposite ends, said hold-down device comprising: an elongated flexible strap of single thickness extending over said top of said mobile home and having opposite ends extending vertically downwardly along said sidewalls of said mobile home; said strap being of polyester material; corner brackets being mounted at the corners of said mobile home where said sidewalls meet the edges of said top wall, said corner brackets having rollers thereon, said straps extending over said rollers whereby said rollers facilitate transfer of tension along the length of said straps, said brackets having lateral flanges thereon embracing the opposite edges of said strap so as to maintain said strap in alignment over said bracket; a pair of anchor elements anchored in the ground adjacent said opposite ends of said straps, said anchor elements comprising an elongated rod having helical blade means on the lower end thereof, said blade means being buried in the ground; strap gripping means mounted on the upper end of each of said rods for securing said opposite ends of said straps to said rods; at least one of said gripping means comprising a winch having a J-shaped frame, a shaft rotatably mounted to said J-shaped frame, locking means for selectively locking said shaft against rotation, an inverted U-shaped frame fixed to said J-shaped frame and embracing the upper end of said elongated rod, securing means securing said upper end of said rod to said U-shaped member.
 5. A method for anchoring a mobile home to the ground, said mobile home having a top, opposite walls extending downwardly from the lateral edges of said top, and opposite ends, said method comprising: anchoring anchor elements in the ground on opposite sides of said mobile home; screwing anchor elements into the ground on opposite sides of said mobile home, said anchor elements each having an augerlike lower end, a shaft extending upwardly therefrom, and an eyelet on the upper end of said shaft; securing one end of a polyester strap to one of said eyelets of said shaft; placing a pair of L-shaped brackets each having a roller at the corner thereof over the corners between said top and side walls of said mobile home, extending said strap over the top of said mobile home and aligning said strap over said L-shaped brackets so that said strap bears on said rollers as it passes over said corners of said mobile home, wrapping the other end of said strap around a winch; attaching said winch to the other of said anchor elements by extending a bolt through said eyelet and a bolt hole in the frame of said winch; tightening said strap by rotation of said winch to bring said strap to a taut condition. 